Geranium plant named ‘Balgalbrise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Balgalbrise’ characterized by its semi-double red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with a slightly darker green-colored zone, and moderately vigorous and semi-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed:Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatum.

Variety denomination: ‘Balgalbrise’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant botanically known as Perlargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatumand hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balgalbrise’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inCalifornia during January 2000. The object of the breeding program is todevelop new interspecific Geranium cultivars with outwardly spreadinggrowth habit, uniform flowering, and interesting flower and foliagecolors.

The new cultivar is an irradiation induced sport of ‘Sunrise’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,139, characterized by its single coral red-coloredflowers, medium green-colored foliage with slight zonation, excellentbasal branching, and medium vigorous and trailing growth habit. Theirradiation occurred on Jan. 15, 2000. The new cultivar was discoveredand selected by the inventor on Nov. 11, 2000 in a controlledenvironment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceNovember 2000 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with allcharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balgalbrise’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double red-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage with a slightly darker        green-colored zone; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous and semi-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily inflower form and flower color.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is‘Balgalsusi’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,457. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balgalsusi’ in the following characteristic: Plants of the new cultivarhave a different flower color from plants of ‘Balgalsusi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balgalbrise’. Theplants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balgalbrise’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single umbel of ‘Balgalbrise’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of a single flower of ‘Balgalbrise’.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of a single leaf of ‘Balgalbrise’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on May 16, 2005 between 3:00p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a doublepolycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill.in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 75° F. (18° C.to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 62° F. to 68° F. (17° C. to20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 3,500 to 5,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatum    cultivar Balgalbrise.-   Parentage:    -   -   Parent.—‘Sunrise’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,139.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous and            semi-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 25.6 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 10.7 cm. Width: Approximately 23.6            cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 2            branches per plant.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 9.6 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.9 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short, soft hairs. Color: Closest to 144A. Internode            length at center of branch: Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 10. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite. Aspect: Petiole is at acute angle to            stem and blade is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform.            Margin: Crenate, palmately lobed. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 4.7 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            8.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Moderately pubescent with short, stiff hairs and            densely pubescent along venation. Color of mature foliage            upper surface: 137B with venation of 143C and with narrow,            circular zone of 137A in middle of leaf. Color of mature            foliage lower surface: 137C with venation of 137C. Petiole            length: Approximately 4.1 cm. Petiole diameter:            Approximately 2.2 mm. Petiole texture: Densely pubescent            with short, soft hairs on both upper and lower surface.            Petiole color: Closest to 144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balgalbrise’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 11 weeks from sticking            of unrooted cutting.        -   Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 5 to 7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Type.—Umbel. Position: Above foliage. Number of open umbels            at nine weeks: Approximately 2. Number of developing umbels            at nine weeks: Approximately 3. Umbel diameter:            Approximately 10.5 cm. Umbel height/depth: Approximately            7.3 cm. Number of flowers per umbel: Approximately 13.            Fragrance: None.        -   Peduncle.—Strong, erect. Length: Approximately 18.1 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with moderately stiff hairs. Color: Closest to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open floret.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:            Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.4 mm. Petal            color: 44B. Sepal texture: Densely pubescent. Petal texture:            Glabrous.        -   Corolla.—Form: Semi-double. Shape: Round. Diameter:            Approximately 5.2 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity: Approximately 6 petals and 1 to            3 irregular shaped petaloids per flower. Appearance: Dull,            velvety. Aspect: Upper petals turn backward and lower petals            are slightly cupped. Arrangement: Upper petals overlap and            lower petals overlap but upper petals do not overlap lower            petals. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture of upper and lower surface:            Glabrous. Upper petal length: Approximately 3.4 cm. Upper            petal width: Approximately 2.2 cm. Lower petal length:            3.0 cm. Lower petal width: 2.2 cm. Color of upper surface of            upper petal: Closest to but brighter than 42A with strong            venation in lower half of 59C. Color of lower surface of            upper petal: Closest to 43A with venation at base of 64B.            Color of upper surface of lower petal: Closest to but            brighter than 42A with slight venation at base of 59C. Color            of lower surface of lower petal: Closest to 43A with            venation at base of 64B.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, knobs observed at base. Angle:            Acute. Length: Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.2 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with long, soft hairs.            Color: 144A with overlay of 187B.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Five-pointed star. Width: Approximately 2.5            cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per floret: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Upper sepal length: Approximately            1.6 cm. Upper sepal width: Approximately 4.7 mm. Lower sepal            length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Lower sepal width:            Approximately 2.9 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with long, soft            hairs. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 144B with overlay            of 187B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature anthers:            Approximately 4 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: Approximately 2.3 mm. Anther color: 59A. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color N163A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: Approximately            1.3 cm. Stigma shape: Five branched. Stigma length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma color: 53C. Style length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Style color: 67B. Ovary length:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary texture: Sericeous. Ovary color:            144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Geranium has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balgalbrise’,substantially as herein shown and described.